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How to protect yourself from 5 common scams


October 1, 2026

Every day, thousands of people are impacted by common scam types such as email, text, or phone call scams; payment app scams; or AI and deepfake scams.

Nearly three in four Americans have experienced a scam or fraud attempt*.

Three in four! That’s your neighbor, your coworker, your family member, or you.

In fact, Americans lost an estimated $68 billion to scams last year**. That’s why we’re committed to helping you spot and slay scams.

We’ve joined the American Bankers Association in a nationwide effort to put criminals on notice, give you the power to protect your information and money, and help you become a scam slayer: an everyday hero whose best defense against a scam is knowing what to look for and what your bank will never ask.

Anyone can be a scam slayer.

Common scam types

The first step in slaying a scam is knowing the red flags.

Here are the most common scam types to watch for and what makes them suspicious.

Email Scams

Watch for these red flags:

  • Suspicious email address
  • Typos or unusual grammar
  • Urgent language
  • Hyperlinks — never click them
  • Attachments — never open them

Text Scams

Watch for these red flags:

  • Unusual phone numbers — legit text message updates come from an official four- or five-digit number used by your bank (in our case, account alerts come from 99588)
  • Texts asking you to open a link — your bank will never ask you to log into your account by texting a link
  • Odd grammar
  • Scare tactics and urgent language

Phone Call Scams

Stay safe with these tips:

  • Watch out for a false sense of urgency
  • Never share sensitive information
  • Don’t rely on caller ID

Payment App Scams

Stay safe when using payment apps such as Venmo, Cash App, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Wallet:

  • Be wary of texts or calls about payment apps
  • Use payment apps to pay friends and
    family only
  • Raise the alarm on urgent payment requests
  • Avoid unusual payment methods

AI and Deepfake Scams

These are tricky, but be on the lookout for:

  • Unexpected requests
  • Emotional manipulation
  • Uncharacteristic communication

How to spot a scam

If you have any doubts about whether something is a scam, run through this checklist for potential indicators:

  1. Did they contact me out of nowhere?
  2. Are they creating urgency or panic?
  3. Are they asking for my personal info? PIN? Account number? Password?
  4. Does it look official but feel off?
  5. Are they asking for a one-time passcode?
  6. Are they asking me to keep the conversation or interaction a secret?

How to protect yourself from scams

Now that you’re an expert scam spotter, it’s time to become an expert scam slayer!

First, you need to set up proper defenses to keep the scammers at bay. Use these tips to lock down your accounts and protect your money.

  • Set up multi-factor authentication on your bank and email login.
  • Use random or complex passwords.
  • Keep your browsers up to date with the latest defenses.
  • Use software like virus protection and malware alerts.
  • Create a family code word that you can ask for to test if a call is legit.

Then, if a scam happens to slip through the cracks, use these power moves to protect yourself.

  • You’re pressured to open a link. – Block!
  • You’re called out of the blue and asked not to tell anyone. – Hang up!
  • You’re emailed an attachment you weren’t expecting. – Hit delete!
  • You’re asked for personal information like your PIN number, passwords, or Social Security number. – Hang up!
  • You’re pressured to log into or send money with payment apps. – Block and report!
  • You’re asked to click, pay, or respond. – Verify first!

What to do if you think you’ve been scammed

If you believe you’ve been scammed, take these next steps:

  1. Contact us at (605) 335-5200.
  2. Change your passwords.
  3. Visit IdentityTheft.gov.
  4. Report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
  5. If you lost money, file a police report.

Additional fraud prevention resources

For more tips, videos, and an interactive quiz to help you keep scammers at bay, visit the Banks Never Ask That website.

We also have fraud prevention resources available on our blog and the fraud and identity theft prevention page on our website.

If you ever have questions about a potential scam, give our team a call at (605) 335-5200; we’re happy to help!

*House Financial Services Committee, Fighting Back Report (2026)
**Gallup and Stop Scams Alliance, Scams in America Report (2026)

Additional resources

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